Improvement in bomb-lances



E. PIERCE. Bomb-Lance.

Patented Jan. 28,1879.

PATENT FFGE.

nennnzua Pinnen, on New jeunnonn, MASSACHUSETTS.

` llvlPuovialvnaNT- 'lNg no MB-LANCES.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.- 111,778, dated January 28, 1879; application filed v v December 20, 1878.

To aliwhom it may concern: i' f;

vBeit known that 1, Ennrunznn PIERCE, of

y New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain .new

and useful Improvements in ,Bomb-Lances, ofwlnchthe followingis a specification :l

This invention relates to 'certain improvements -in that classot`I bomb-lances for killing whalesand other animals in which a charge of .powder or othersuitable explosive contained iu-a proper magazine is'ignited by means of a fuse fired by a cap which is exploded by a suitable hammer or plunger operated by the concussion caused by the discharge of the gun.

My invention has For its object, to provide a .means by which a fresh surface of the fuse may be Iexposed to the iire of the cap, so as to insure the ignition of the said fuse 5 to provide an improved means of securing the spring-arms of the guide wings or feathers tothe tail-piece of the lance, and at the same time close the central aperture'of .the tail-piece of the lance and the apertures'througll `which, 'said arms L pass, so as to prevent the fire at the discharge ofthe gun from communicating with the magazine of the lance; 'and to so construct and arso as to present a fresh surface tothe re when the cap is exploded to insure the ignition of rthe fuseyse'cond, in a fuse-tube fora bomblance having a segmental slot at or near its rear end or other portion, whereby the fuse may beco'nned in placeby means of a cord,

wire, or other binding device; third, in vthe combination, with the magazine of a bomblance, a screw-threaded shank fitting in the rear ofthe magazine, `a-ndprovided with a rearward extension, having tinted sides and slotted longitudinally for the reception of the wings, which are-adapted to spring in and out of the Slots radially from and to a common center, as more fully hereinafter specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of lmy improvement, with parts broken Aaway. Fig, 2 represents agsectionalview of jmy improvement. Fig.3 represents a perspec-A .gtlve view of the tail-piece, with wings open;

and 4, across-section of the same,showing lthe wings closed. 5.

The letter A represents the magazine of a bomb-lance, consisting, as usual, of aV hollow lcylinder' of suitable diameter and length. The"- lette'r B represents a plug, externally screw-A threaded and adapted to 't into a female Screw-thread, C, in theforward end of the' fmagazine A, Through said plugextends the fusetube D, passing rearwardlyinto the magazine, and terminating therein, the forward end of Said tube being externally screw-threaded ,for the reception of a removable cover carrying a nipple, E, whichA is internally screw-A threaded, in order' to fit uponthe end vof said tube. z

`rEhe letter F represents the lancefpoint, which is recessed and screw-threaded internallyto t upon the external screw-thread of the plug B; and withinthe recess in said lance-point is secured, by means of a pin, G, of -wood or other 'easily-broken material, 'a hammer or plunger,

H, which, by the'concussion of the explosion of the charge, breaks and releases the hammer, which strikes and fires the cap on the capnipple. e

' The rear end of said fuse-tube terminates,

as before mentioned, within the magazine, so

as to ignite thecontents of the same when the fuse contained in saidtube is sufficiently burned out'. Y v

The letter K represents the tail-section of the lance. This consists ofan externally screwthreaded shank, L, adapted to iit in'an internal or female screw, M, at the rear end ofthe magazine A. 1

The said shank is reamed out from its front, v i

forming a recess for the reception of a metal disk, P, and is provided with a rearward extension, to be hereinafter described.

1 prefer, for convenience, to cast the two hollow and in one piece. The spring-arms of the wings O pass through apertures l in the base ot' the shank, and sit in similar aperturesp in the'disk P. The disk and the spring amis are' held in place by a tilting ot' solder, S, the disk Serving the additional purpose of closing e the central aperture when the tail piece is cast suitable material,

2 l aanwas .dinally from the shank to a point ucar its rear end, said rear end being cylindrical in form and provided with suitable wad of felt, or other and prevent windage.

The wings are four in number in-the present instance, although more or less may be employed. Said wings are approximately of thc'form of a wedge in cross-section, by-means of'whichithe utmost strength with a minimum "of metal is secu'rerhthus enabling the ledge of the wings to v'bei made exceedingly thin, so as not to retard the iightof the lance when projected through the 'ainor into the water or body of the animal','=;aud to readily' close in ,place inthe slots of ythe tail-piece on entering the body of the whale. 'are secured to the springarms before nienltioned, and are 1adapted to spring out of the y slots radially from a common center theinstant the lance is discharged from the gun, whereby -in its passage or flight through the air it will not deviate from its proper course, i

and on itsentering the body of the whaletlie said wings will be easily forced into their re- .s -pective slots with the-least possible amountv of frictioual surface.

As before mentioned, I prefer lto cast the `shank audits extension hollow and in one piece, with the ilutes or grooves at the sides, the slots being afterward cut by means of asuitable tool. I do not, however, intend to confine myself to this method of construction, as the thiinble and its extension may be constructed in two parts and properly secured together; or they may be cast in one piece, with the flutes and slots complete.

to fill the bore ofl the gun he wings wings,

' The letter-B represents a ring, adapted to be slipped over the tail-piece and the wedges, so as to press the wings radially into their respective slots, for convenience in handling and packing for transportation, and' for e'ecting with comparative ease andtfacility, the insertion of the lance into. the barrel of thev gun. The rear ends of the win gs are also chamfered of, so that they'will be automatically forced in as the lance is inserted in the gun, cilitating the operation.

What I claim as my invention is v l. In combination with the magazine of a bombdance, an extern ally screw threaded removable plug, through which extends a fusetube,- the forward endof which is provided with a detachable cover, carrying a nipple for receiving a -gun-cap, to be exploded by a suitable plunger, substantially as and for the purpose specied. 2. A fuse-tube for a bomb-lance having a segmental slot at or nearits rear end or other portion, whereby the fuse may be confined in place by means of a cord, wire, or other biliding device, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with the magazine of a bomb-lance, a screw-threaded shank ttin g in the rear of the magazine, and provided with a rearward extension having uted sides, -and slotted longitudinally for the reception of the of said slots radially to and from a common center, substantially as specified.

In testiinonythat Iclaini the foregoing I have hereunto set myhand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

EBENEZER PIERCE.

' Witnesses:

JAMES L. Nonnl's, J As. A. RUTHERFORD. A

thus fawhich are adapted to springin and out 

